Ribbon for typewriting machines



Feb. 6, 1923.

3 sHEEfs-sHEET 1 A. GILMA RIBBON FOR wRl TING MACHINES.

Fl LED JULY 14, 1 921 A. s CILMANA RIBBON FOR TYPEwR l T NG MACH NES Fl LED JULY 14. 1921 l Feb. 6, 1923.

Feb. 6, 1923. 1,443,952

A. S. GILMAN RIBBON PoR TYPEWRITING MACHINES.

FILED JULY I4, 1921 3 5HEETs-sHEET 3 Annen/ey Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR S. GILMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RIBBON FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES.

Application filed July I4,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. GILMAN, ,a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county off-Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Ribbons for Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the, invention being herein explained, and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. i

My invention relates to means adapted for use in connection with duplicating typewriting machines and' particularly to that part thereof which relates to the specic device used for produc-ing the duplication of the typewritten matter, and ordinarily referred to as the ribbon mechanism.

Thcobject of the invention is to provide means of the above described character which is simple in construction and efficient in its operation.

Said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

More specifically my invention includes the provision at one end of a carbonribbon,

of a permanently secured device which may be readily attached to or detached from a suitable support, the other end of such rib bon having permanently aflixed thereto, elastic means to which is also secured permanent1y,a fastening device similar to that attached tothe other end of such ribbon. My invention furthermore contemplates then provision of a multiplicity of equal lengths of ribbon to which the fastening devices and the elastic member are secured as above described. Furthermore, y my invention includes the provision of a detachable frame adapted to be mounted upon a typewriter forming a support for and upon which a ribbon of the above described character is detachably mounted, which frame is also provided with a cutting edge whereby, forms to which typewritten matter has been added, may be severed from a continuous sheet of forms, known in the trade as superfold forms, such as are shown and de-A scribed in Patent No. 1,368,729,4issued February 15th, 1921, to The A. S. Gilman printing Company.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the described 1921. Serial N0. 484,537.

means however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of'the invention may-be applied.

n said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan of a standard Underwood typewriter to which my invention has been applied. I l

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of Y such typewrite Figure 3 represents a fragmentary front elevation, with the 'ordinary ribbon broken away to disclose the auxiliary or duplicating ribbon forming a part of my invention, the view being taken from the plane indicated by line III-III, Figure 2, and in the dil rection indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 represents, upon an enlarged scale. a section taken upon a plane indicated bythe line. IV-IV, Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the auxiliary frame and ribbon mounted thereon.

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the form of ribbon forming part of my invention and detached from its supporting and detachable frame.

Figurel 7 represents a section taken' upon the plane indicated by line VII-VII, Figure 5, and showing the parts of the ribbon in position prior to its final adjustment to the frame.

Figure` 8 represents a view similar to that in Figure 7, with the ribbon in its operative position on the supporting frame.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention includes a frame 1, Figure 5, to which is attached a ribbon'2 of a construction hereinafter fully described.

The frame 1 is of general rectangular form preferably of sheet metal, and its side members are each' provided with a lug 3 forming open-ended 'slots 4-4 which are adapted to detachably engage a transverse bar 19 of an Underwood ty ewriter, which bar forms a standard part ci) the latter. These side members are furthermore provided with two open-ended slots 5 5 which are adapted to receive the laten spindle 6 of the typewriter. The Wi th of the frame 1 is such that it will span the upper portion of the typewriter and permit the slots 4-1 and 5 5 to simultaneously engage the bar 5 and spindle 6 respectively, as shown in Figure 1. When so engaging these parts the front member 7 of the frame lies above and in front of the axis of the platen, as shown 8 forms a cuttingedge for the superfold strips 9, of aper, upon which the forms are printed an to which t-ypewritten matter is added.

lThe side members of the frame are each provided with a downwardly extending arm 10-10 which, when the frame is mounted upon the typewriter, lie opposite and adjacent to the ends of the platen, as shown in Figure 3. To the front and near the lower end of each of these arms is formed a small rectangular aperture 11 as shown clearly in Figures 2, 7 and 8.

The ribbon member 12 consists of a multiplicity of substantially equal and superposed lengths of carbon ribbon` to the ends of which is secured a clip 13 preferably of thin sheet metal which is provided with a hook 14. This clip is bent around so as to enclose the ends of the ribbon lengths and is fastened permanently in that position by any suitable means, preferably by indenting. The other ends of the ribbon lengths are all permanently secured preferably by sewing, to a band 15 made of elastic material, such as a woven fabric of rubber-bands covered with fiber, ordinarily referred to as elastic Secured to the free end of this elastic band 15 is a clip 16 similar in construction to the clip 13 and preferably secured to the band in the same above-described manner. The length of the ribbon structure above described is such, that it will be shorter than the distance between the arms 10. The hooks of'the clips 125 and 16 are adapted to engage the arms 10-10 by passing through the aperture 11, as shown in igure. 8, and to effect this engagement, the one hook 14 is first inserted into the one aperture 11 whereupon the clip 16 is grasped and the band 15 is stretched until the hook 17 may be brought into the position shown in Figure 7, so that upon its release it may engage the other aperture 11, as shown in Figure 8.

The length and position of the arms 10-10 are such that when the ribbon member is in the above described position, it will lie in front of the platen, as shown in Figure 4 and directly behind the ribbon 18 which is regularly and ordinarily supplied with a typewriting machine of this character. Vith the auxiliary ribbon in this position, the sheets of paper are threaded between each two adjacent ribbon elements. in-

P cluding the ribbon 18, as shown in Figure 4.

quired. A ribbon of two lengths is suitable for producing two duplicates l or carbon copies, the foremost or regular ribbon 18 producing the original of the typewritten matter, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Insofar as relates to the provision of a permanently secured clip at one end of the ribbon member, and a permanently secured elastic band and a clip permanently secured to the latter, at the other end, my invention is not confined to a multiplicity of ribbon elements or lengths, but may be applied to a single element.

In forming the ribbon member of my invention, separate ribbon lengths may be provided or a single length of ribbon may be folded to provide, the required number of lengths, and the clips and elastic bands secured at the folds` all as will be readily understood. Care should, however` be taken that in either event the ribbon elements be of substantially the same length from the one point of fastening to the other, so that, when it is stretched into position, the lengths will be subjected substantially to the same tension.

It will be noted that the slots 11 in the arms 10 of the rectangular frame extend in the same direction with the axis of the platen and also are coincident with the line of straln upon the supplemental ribbons 2. The clips which are affixed to the ends of the supplemental ribbons are substantially U-shape in form' and the parallel portions thereof lie snugly against the front edges of the arms and the forward walls of the slots 11, while the connecting portion between these parallel parts lies in contact with the outer faces of the arms. The clip is thus secured on three sides and canting or possible deflection is avoided. Such casual deflection or non-aligmnent of the clips would result inthe failure to accurately position the supplemental ribbons and to hold them not only relatively to the typebut also relatively to the paper and to the surface of the laten.

In t is manner, I provide a very simple and effective ribbon mechanism for producing duplicate copies of typewritten matter and especially adapted for use in connection with what I have heretofore referred to as 'superfold forms.

What I claim is:

l. In combination with a typewriter, a rect-angular open frame secured to the typewriter and having arms depending at the front side portions of the frame andat the ends of the platen, said arms having slots near their forward ends extending in the same direction as the axis of the platen, a supplemental ribbon carried by said arms and in front of the platen, clips secured to the ends of the supplemental ribbon and rasaosa having front portions adapted to rest against the forward edges of said arms, lat eral and rearwardly directed portions lying against the outside faces of the arms, and inwardly directed free end portions pro jecting Vfrom the rear end of the lateral portions and being adapted to enter the slots and to lit snugly against the forward walls of such slots.

2. In combination `with a typewriter, a rectangular open frame removably attached to the typewriter carriageand being movable therewith, means adapted to interlock with bars of the typewriter carriage to prevent the forward, rearward and upward movementl of the frame, arms depending at the front sides of the frame and lying beyond the ends of the platen, said arms having lateral slots extendin through the forward portions thereof, t e' front ed es of the arms extending slightly beyond t e peripher' of the platen, a series of supplementa ribbons, an elastic secured at one end of the suplemental ribbons, a clip secured to the elastic, and a second clip secured at thev opposite ends of lthe supplemental ribbons, said clips each comprising forward portions extending in alignment with the ribbons, lateral portions directed rearwardly and rear portions extending inwardly from the lateral portions, said rear portions adapted to seat within the slots and to lit up against the forward walls oi the slots, said lateral portions adapted to seat against the-outer side faces of the arms and the front portions of the clips adapted to rest against the forward edges of the arms, said clips being bound in place by the action of the elastic.

3. A device o the character? described comprising a snbstantiallyrectangular open frame ada ted to removablylitoyer the carriage o a typewriter,; means depending from the sides of said framelfor looping about the rods of the typewriter carriage whereby to support and interlock the frame upon the carriage, and arms extending downwardly from the forward portions of the frame and at the ends of the typewriter platen, said arms adapted to receive a ribbon, substantially as described.

Signed by me this 28th day of June, 1921.

v LARTHUR S. GLMAN. 

